Recruiting News

With the rise of Bitcoin, the amount of attention directed at blockchain has increased significantly. Its ability to create records, referred to as blocks, that are highly resistant to alteration after the fact and that lead to thorough transaction ledgers is especially attractive, particularly in the financial sector.

But, just because a technology is making headlines doesn’t necessarily make it a smart career move. However, blockchain has a lot to offer professionals who are interested in pursuing the technologies, making it a smart time to get a job in the field.

High Demand

One of the biggest reasons that starting a career in blockchain is a wise move is that demand is incredibly high. Experienced blockchain developers are able to secure extremely large salaries as it is difficult to find professionals with the right skill set.

Much of this is due to the fact that blockchain can still be viewed as being in its infancy, so there aren’t necessarily many traditional educational options for acquiring the skills. That means it may require more effort to gain the knowledge, but the payoff is certainly there.

Wide Potential

Aside from the direct links to Bitcoin, blockchain also has potential in other business areas. For example, work is being put into the smart contracts arena, allowing people to come to official arrangements that are less susceptible to alteration after the deal is done, including by hackers.

Blockchain technology is considered at the forefront of both security and cryptography, and could provide value with distributed systems, all of which suggest that this form of development has more to offer than may be apparent on the surface.

Cutting-Edge Development

A benefit of a system that is still in its early phases is that those participating in blockchain today will be shaping the technology of tomorrow. There is still a lot of work to be done to explore the potential of blockchain fully, so jobs in the field may be especially primed for creative thinking and innovation. For job seekers who thrive in environments where they are regularly challenged and empowered to create new solutions, blockchain development may be an ideal opportunity for meeting those needs.

Experience Requirements Vary

One benefit of how new blockchain is, in a larger sense, you don’t necessarily need substantial experience to get started. Many companies are resorting to hiring software developers with limited knowledge about blockchain since that is what they can find in the marketplace. If you have an interest in blockchain and dedicate some time to the technology, you can get a position even without formal training or experience.

Ultimately, blockchain is an emerging technology, allowing skilled developers to reach higher salary levels based on the current demand. So, if you have an interest in the field, making the leap now could be particularly lucrative.

If you would like to learn more about blockchain development positions, the team at The Armada Group can connect you with leading employers in the area. Contact us to discuss what opportunities may be available to you.

Everyone knows you only have a few moments to catch the attention of the hiring manager with your resume. That means having a high-quality document is essential to landing the position, regardless of the level. To help you stand out from the crowd, here are a few resume tips for CIOs that can work for anyone hoping to land their dream job.

Focus on the Target Position, Not Your Current One

One common mistake is to provide too many details about the daily work you do today. While giving recruiters or hiring managers insight into your experience is important, focusing on the minutia doesn’t provide them with any value.

Instead, you need to translate how your experience applies to the target position. This typically involves reviewing accomplishments and not your day-to-day duties. Highlight applicable examples that are relevant to the job you want, and you’ll make a much better impression.

Watch Out for Jargon

While other IT professionals may appreciate your use of industry terminology, not everyone who reviews your application may be as well-versed in the tech-specific jargon as you. And if they aren’t, that means they won’t understand the content of your resume.

To be effective, your resume needs to walk the line between technical accuracy and clear communication. Often, you can use phrases that are in the job posting, as these can be necessities if your application will be reviewed by an applicant tracking system first. Just make sure that the rest of your technical jargon can be easily understood by someone who may not have the same level of expertise in the field.

Be Concise, But Thorough

When you list accomplishments or skills on your resume, it’s important to get to the point quickly. This often means using short, concise descriptions that convey the relevant whats, whens and wheres associated with the details.

However, being concise doesn’t mean you should be abrupt or leave out important information as a method of restricting the length of a bullet point. If certain details are relevant to the target position, make sure to include them. Just make sure to keep things focused along the way.

Review for Errors

Once you’ve filled out your resume, it’s vital to review it for mistakes. Spelling and grammar errors won’t make a great impression and could send your application sent straight into the discard pile.

After going over it yourself, get a trusted friend, colleague or staffing professional to review the document. Sometimes, another set of eyes can help make sure nothing gets overlooked. That way, you end up with a high-quality, error-free resume that is more likely to catch the hiring manager’s attention for all of the right reasons.

If you are interested in learning more or would like assistance with your job search, the professionals at The Armada Group can provide you with the information and support you need. Contact us to see how our services can help you land your dream job today.

Using social media to find potential candidates, a process known as social recruiting, can be highly effective. However, there are various unwritten rules that indicate a recruiter may have gone too far. These tools are powerful, but using them properly is the key to success. Here’s what you need to know about the nuances and best practices associated with social recruiting.

Don’t Spam Job Posts

An overzealous recruiter may be tempted to get the word out about a position by repeatedly posting information about the vacancy on social media. While they may believe this will help the post be seen by more people, it’s actually a quick way to alienate yourself.

If a particular account keeps flooding followers with the same announcement, it may encourage people to unfollow the account as a way to eliminate the noise. Others may ignore the posts or mute them from their feeds. Either way, it means you lose access to passive job seekers who are simply annoyed by the practice.

Don’t Pry

Researching a candidate over social media can be an excellent way to vet a job seeker. But digging deeper than is necessary isn’t useful and can border on inappropriate. For example, quickly scanning posts and photos for signs of trouble or to confirm the person has the relevant education or experience is fine, but opening hundreds of photos isn’t a way to accomplish those goals.

Writing Off Candidates Who Won’t Let You In

Since screening the social media accounts of job seekers has become common practice, many candidates separate their personal pages from their professional ones. Typically, they’ll restrict access to the accounts that are dedicated to their private lives and only give recruiters access to the professional variants.

Turning away a job seeker just because they won’t friend you on Facebook is generally a mistake. Yes, there is information to be seen there, but the candidate is smart enough to keep these details private. Remember, if you can’t see the account, it is likely the person isn’t letting anyone in if it could harm their public image. And that’s actually a good thing.

Don’t Force a Peek

While this is by no means common, some recruiters have crossed serious lines by “making” job seekers log into their social media accounts in front of them, so they can take a look. Not only is this a violation of the candidate’s privacy, it is often seen as highly unethical and potentially an abuse of power.

Instead of resorting to these measures, recruiters need to understand that social media is only one tool for evaluating applicants. Not being given access to an account isn’t a reason to discount a potential employee and forcing them to give you access is unacceptable.

If you have open positions and would like assistance screening candidates, the team at The Armada Group can locate the top talent you need. Contact us to see how our services can improve your recruitment processes today.

When people think of cybersecurity threats, they often focus on ransomware, DDoS attacks and phishing attempts. However, another risk exists for almost every company in operations: Former employees.

In a recent survey, only half of the IT decision-makers responding stated they were “very confident” that ex-employees couldn’t gain access to critical business systems, and a full 48 percent acknowledged that workers who were no longer on staff could access the network. In fact, 20 percent of those surveys stated their company experienced a data breach led by a former employee.

The Risk Associated With Former Employee Accounts

Failing to remove ex-employees access to critical systems is a major cybersecurity risk. When these accounts remain active, former staff members can use their old credentials to affect systems, remove data and cause other mayhem.

But, even knowing that, many businesses fail to remove ex-employee access immediately, and approximately 20 percent of those surveyed admitted it took longer than a month to get these privileges revoked.

What Causes the Delay?

Removing access immediately seems simple on the surface, but many companies struggle to do so. Why? Because the process is actually more time-consuming than many realize. For example, 70 percent of those surveyed said it could take up to one hour to remove a single employee’s access from the system. Many companies are aware of dozens of applications and access points that must be addressed during the removal process, and it is a cumbersome task to review them all.

Additionally, many businesses still have occurrences of hundreds of other applications of which they aren’t fully aware. This can include old software that is no longer in active use but was never formally removed. Often, these employee accounts slip through the cracks as they aren’t on anyone’s radar.

Another issue can be a disconnect between human resources personnel and IT professionals. Often, HR is considered the authority on who is and is not employed by the business. If the organization doesn’t have a formalized process for alerting IT to employee status changes, the department is likely unaware that removal actions are required.

Which Ex-Employees Pose a Risk?

While most companies focus on workers who were fired as their primary source of risk, those that leave voluntarily aren’t necessarily guaranteed not to be a problem as well. Additionally, even if a former employee means their previous employer no ill-will, that doesn’t ensure their credentials might not be incidentally used for malicious purposes.

For example, if the person moves on to a new company and uses the same credentials, that means a breach at their current company could provide criminals with the data they need to access your system as well.

To mitigate all of the risks above, it is critical to create formal procedures designed to remove ex-employee access as quickly as possible. If you would like to learn more, the skilled professionals at The Armada Group have the information you need. Contact us today.

Back-end developers are incredibly valuable to companies. They create the foundation and inner structure that allows systems to function, which is critical for businesses to succeed. If you are interested in a career change and entering the world of back-end development, here are the skills you need to be successful in your new role.

Programming Skills

A back-end developer will spend a significant amount of their time writing code. Often some of the most popular programming languages are the ones that will serve you best. For example, enterprise development often favors Java and C#, though PHP and Visual Basic may also be required. JavaScript, Python, and Ruby are also becoming popular for back-end development, making them strong options as well.

An understanding of various development frameworks is also vital. Which ones you need to know depends on the language being used. For instance, Visual Basic and C# often necessitate knowing ASP.NET, while Python typically requires knowledge of Django.

Database Knowledge

Databases are everywhere, and back-end developers must often interact with these systems. Common variants include Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, NoSQL, PostgreSQL and Oracle. As with frameworks, the language that is used often dictates which database is used, but all of these systems require a knowledge of the SQL language.

You may also need to be familiar with certain tools associated with databases. For example, Hibernate for Java and Microsoft’s Entity Framework for ASP.NET may be in use in a workplace, meaning you’ll need to be familiar with them to be successful in the position.

Web Services Experience

Web-based applications are commonly integrated with other systems to provide necessary functions, and back-end developers must be prepared to provide the necessary structure to make these connections viable. Generally, you’ll need to understand both SOAP and REST web services, though REST is typically favored based on the lower learning curve.

Skilled professionals can make an entire career out of being a back-end developer, though these positions can also serve as springboards for other opportunities. For example, some may use their experience to transition into front-end development opportunities, while others will combine both skill sets to become what is known as a full-stack developer. It is also possible to move into application architecture or database development roles, if a person so chooses.

With so many options available, making a career change into a back-end development position can be an incredibly smart move. If you want to learn more about what it takes to work in this field or are interested in exploring job opportunities in the area of back-end development, The Armada Group can connect you with leading employers in the area who are looking for professionals just like you. Contact us today to speak with one of our skilled recruiters and see how our services can make your transition into a back-end development position easier than ever.

Tech giant Google recently released a piece of software aimed at human resources professionals and recruiters called Google Hire. The software is said to be designed for small to mid-sized business in the U.S. and seeks to provide mechanisms for recruitment specialists to communicate with job candidates, manage applications and schedule interviews, taking advantage of its integration with Google Cloud products to facilitate these activities. It even makes posting job announcements easier thanks to its ability to disseminate this information onto popular job search sites.

Google Hire hopes to provide recruiters with tools that help improve efficiency while also making the entire hiring process more transparent. But, even with these reported benefits, will recruiters use Google Hire? The answer is, it depends. Here’s what you need to know.

G Suite Application Integration

One of the largest determinates regarding whether recruitment specialists will use Google Hire is whether they currently use other Google offerings today. This new HR system is designed to work seamlessly with certain products like Google Calendar, Gmail and Sheets.

If a recruiter works for an organization that favors Google’s offerings, and they are in the market for a new hiring solution, then Google Hire should be on their list. However, if the company isn’t using other Google products, they might not experience the same level of benefit by making a switch.

There Are a Lot of Options in the Market

Right now, there are numerous software vendors offering HR solutions including Microsoft, Workday, Lever and Greenhouse. While Google Hire may be a strong system, it isn’t the only suitable option on the market today.

Whether a recruiter or business is going to consider Google Hire partially depends on their level of satisfaction with their current system and how the solution measures up to competitors in regards to functionality and price. As mentioned above, the present use of other Google products may also be a factor, as Office 365 users may be more inclined to consider the Dynamics 365 Talent solution that integrates more effectively with Microsoft products.

Additionally, transitioning from one system to Google Hire may be a cumbersome process, so people who aren’t displeased with their current solution may forgo the hassle of moving their data and learning a new offering.

It’s New

Google Hire hasn’t been on the market very long, so some recruiters might not be aware of what the system has to offer. Additionally, it will take time to determine whether the software lives up to its promises.

Recruiters looking to simplify their lives and who already use G Suite for work may be inclined to take the plunge, even at this early stage. Others may hesitate, waiting for more reviews to become available.

If you are interested in finding a solution that makes hiring easier, the team at The Armada Group has the services you need to succeed. Contact us to see how our unique, customized offerings can help you find top talent more efficiently than ever before.

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Your resume serves as an introduction, giving hiring managers an overview of what you have to offer. Since this document serves as your first point of contact, and you can be discarded without any further interaction, having it make the best impression possible is the key to getting an interview. If you want to be the company’s number one choice, your resume needs to send the right message. Here are some tips on how you can boost your resume, so you can score that interview.

Get Your Contact Information Right

In many cases, a streamlined approach to you contact information is wise. Go ahead and skip full addresses in favor of just your city and state, and bypass labeling each piece of information unless it is absolutely necessary. For example, the vast majority of people know what a phone number looks like, so labeling it “phone” or “cell” is just unnecessary. The same can be said for email addresses as well.

Keyword Load Your Headline and Summary

You want your headline and summary to really draw the hiring manager in, so make sure any skills that were presented as must-haves in the job announcement are front and center, and listed using the same language as you found in the vacancy description.

But don’t stop with simply listing skills. Instead, keyword load your headline and use the summary speak about how you can provide value to the business. Explain how your prior experience and industry knowledge apply to the organization and position, and avoid repeating any skills you listed in the headline unless absolutely necessary.

Adjust Your Job Titles

Companies can use any title they want to describe a job, and not all of the options translate easily into something relatable to the hiring manager. So, if your current or previous employers used a unique naming convention, clarify it within a set of parentheses next to the non-traditional title. You can also use the same technique to describe a position that involved duties associated with more than one specialty.

Summarize Positions First, Bullet Accomplishments Second

Once you’ve straightened out the title, dedicate the next line to a headline based on the job, and the following few lines to briefly describe the position. Focus on the results achieved during your time with the company as well as key skills you used to achieve objectives, especially if they aren’t covered elsewhere in your resume.

After that, add a few bullet points that describe quantifiable accomplishment during your time in the position. This helps demonstrate your value to the business and shows you can produce measurable results.

By making these small changes, you can make a better first impression with hiring managers and increase your chances of being their top choice for the position. If you want to learn more about designing a winning resume or are interested in new employment opportunities, the professional recruiters at The Armada Group want to hear from you. Contact us today to see how our expertise can help you land your ideal job.

IT professionals with big data skills are in-demand and seeing high rates of compensation as unemployment among tech workers continue to remain low. While having experience in the field is helpful, certain certifications can give you an edge when it comes to impressing hiring managers. To help you select the right options, here are seven big data certifications that will boost your career.

Analytics: Optimizing Big Data

This undergraduate program is somewhat unique in that it’s suitable for professionals in a wide variety of field, including data analysts and similar IT workers. The Analytics: Optimizing Big Data certificate brings together an understanding of statistics and analysis with written and oral communications skills. Students learn about the tools associated with analyzing large sets of data and how to use various software packages to achieve optimal results.

Certified Analytics Professional

Offered by INFORMS, the Certified Analytics Professional (CAP) course is a general certification that covers the analytics process. Key points of instruction include framing problems, acquiring data, analytics methodology, modeling, and deployment. For those looking for a well-rounded certification, CAPs may be an excellent choice.

Cloudera Certified Associate (CCA) Data Analyst

Aimed at SQL developers, the CCA Data Analyst confirms a professional’s skills related to loading, transforming, and modeling Hadoop data for the defining of relationships and extraction of meaningful results based on raw outputs. Students are given set problems and must analyze the information and determine an ideal approach within a specified time limit. Cloudera does offer a companion course that covers all of the exam material for an additional fee.

EMC Proven Professional Data Scientist Associate (EMCDSA)

Serving as a demonstration of an individual’s ability to function within a data science team and participate in big data projects, the EMCDSA certification covers topics like the deployment of the data analytics lifecycle, reframing business challenges, the application of analytic techniques, tool usage, data visualization selection, and more.

IBM Certified Data Architect – Big Data

A certification designed for current data architects, the IBM Certified Data Architect – Big Data certificate allows professionals to demonstrate their ability to work with clients and solutions architects to turn customer business requirements into a solution focused on big data.

Data engineers can pursue a sister certification through the IBM Certified Data Engineer – Big Data program. This focuses on the individual’s ability to translate an architect’s big data solution into a finalized product.

SAS Certified Big Data Professional

Professionals interested in using their programming knowledge to gather and analyze big data in SAS can benefit from the SAS Certified Big Data Professional certificate. The program puts a focus on SAS programming skills and how they can be applied to analytics including when working with Hadoop.

Any of the certifications above have the potential to give job seekers significant advantages when seeking a new position focused on big data. If you would like to learn more or are interested in finding a big data job, the team at The Armada Group can help you explore your options. Contact us to speak with one of our recruitment specialists today.

Fear is designed to keep us safe; it helps keep us aware of physical and emotional dangers, allowing us to take action to stay safe. But too much fear can cause trouble, especially when the situation causing the feelings of anxiety aren’t as severe as we perceive them to be. And, when those feelings affect our jobs, it can actually halt career progress in its track.

To help you overcome fears that are holding your career back, here are two of the most common ones and what you can do to overcome them.

Fear of Rejection

People aren’t solitary creatures; we often crave the support of a group who accepts us. But finding a new job opens us up to fears of rejection, as we don’t know whether our new co-workers will accept us into the group once we start a new position. However, there are ways to make transitioning into a new team easier, increasing the chance you’ll be seen as an asset instead of an outsider.

Take the time to listen to those working around you. Many people start a position and want to share their ideas with their new co-workers. But, it is often better to hear their perspectives first and to learn why current processes are the way they are. By taking this approach, you are showing respect for the current standard, and you get a chance to really see what makes the place tick.

Fear of Failure

A fear of failure can stop us from trying anything new, including finding a new position that might be a better fit. Often, it leads us to procrastinate, or even give up on our goals, as it seems like a better option than having a less than favorable outcome.

In most cases, our fear of failure has us believing that the results could be catastrophic, even if that isn’t actually the likely result. To get beyond these concerns, examine the situation objectively and consider the likelihood that, even if it doesn’t go well, the worst case scenario is actually going to happen and if it is actually that bad.

Often, when it comes to a job search, the worst outcome is being passed over for a position. While this can be upsetting, it doesn’t generally do much harm. And, when compared to the benefits of scoring that new job, it can seem like a risk worth taking.

While trying to land a new job can be scary, our fears regarding the situation are often unfounded. Instead of focusing on the potential negatives, try and keep the benefits in mind. Finding the right job can be invigorating for your career and you personally. Before you decide to step away from your goals, see if what you could gain doesn’t make it seem worth it in your eyes.

If you would like help during your job search, the recruiters at The Armada Group can support you through the process. Contact us today and see if the right job for you is just around the corner.

Facebook released their new job posting feature, providing opportunities for businesses and candidates to connect more easily across the platform. It gives companies the chance to connect quickly with potential candidates who are already fans of the brand, while also extending beyond those limits. But whether you will get the kind of applicants you want depends on how effectively you use the tool.

Since the feature is currently free to use (and it may not stay that way), now is a great time to experience the process for yourself. If you want to increase your odds of success, here are some tips to get you started.

You Must Check Your Page Regularly

The job posting tool has one quirk that may change how your business needs to manage its Facebook page; all notifications are sent via the internal messaging system and not to an external inbox. This means you will have to check for messages often and be prepared to communicate with applicants via Facebook Messenger.

In many cases, this isn’t a process recruiters are used to, even if some recruitment is already managed through Facebook. Having every response to a job posting directed in this fashion means a potentially significant increase in the messages received, and more time spent sorting those for other communications.

Target the Right Demographics

Facebook allows users to include a large amount of information about their past experiences and education. The job posting feature allows companies to target based on the associated demographics, enabling you to reach the exact kind of candidates you need to find.

While some companies may be tempted to cast as wide a net as possible, it is important to realize how big the potential sea of candidates is on a site as vast as Facebook. Without the use of demographics, you might get a lot of attention from applicants who aren’t truly suited for the position, and that can be a lot of information to sort through to reach those who may actually fit the bill.

Keep Mobile and Media in Mind

The majority of Facebook viewing is done over smartphones, not computers. This means you need to consider how the job posting will look on a mobile device if you want to attract the most attention from job seekers. And don’t be afraid to add images, as media-rich posts typically get significantly more attention than those that don’t, regardless of the platform.

Think Entry-Level before Executive

While many executives have Facebook pages, it isn’t necessarily their platform of choice for employment-related communications, especially if they are well set up on LinkedIn. However, more entry-level workers might not have created a strong profile on LinkedIn but may be accessible through Facebook.

In this regard, the ability to reach a wider audience can be key when you need employees who might have less experience or education and may feel they don’t have enough to say to create a profile on LinkedIn. And, when unemployment is low, any advantage to reach those looking to start their careers can be beneficial.

If you are looking for more ways to reach job seekers, The Armada Group can help you connect with today’s top talent. Contact us to discuss your current vacancies and see how our services can help your job postings get seen by more candidates in your target market.